1 Corinthians, Day 7
1 Corinthians 11
I used to work as a supervisor for a college cafeteria. At the end of each shift, we had a checklist of tasks to complete after we were done serving meals for the day. We all knew that the faster we completed the tasks, the faster we got to go home. One of the lessons I learned is that when the people I was “in charge of” realized I had their best interest in mind, they were more willing to trust me. While technically in the hierarchy of our company I was their boss, my actions were not the kind that flaunted my power and demanded respect that I was unwilling to give them. Instead, we operated as a team working towards the same goal (getting home as quickly as possible). There are hierarchies in every system. That concept is not foreign to us. Nor is the idea that people can abuse their position in a hierarchy to gain power for their own benefit. In 1 Corinthians 11, we see a hierarchy established by God met with a true understanding of what is expected by those entrusted to lead.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul explains a hierarchy that is established by God, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” Let me start by saying why God set up the hierarchy this way — I have no idea. However, it is a theme that runs throughout Scripture all the way back to Creation. I’d also like to say, as a man, I think there have been countless individuals harmed over the years as a result of a skewed view of passages like this. With that in mind, let’s look at a few things we can take from this passage of Scripture.
- Headship is not about superiority. This passage is not about men and women being viewed as one being superior and the other being inferior. In Ephesians 5:21, Paul tells us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ and then talks about relationships between husbands and wives and parents and children. Paul later in Chapter 11 talks about the team effort between man and woman. 1 Corinthians 11:11 – 12 says, “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.” David Guzik says, “Inferiority or superiority has nothing to do with it. Remember the relationship between God the Father and God the Son — they are completely equal in their being but have different roles when it comes to authority.”1 We need each other — there is no better or worse. These verses are not talking about superiority but a God-ordained authority that is to be respected.2
- This hierarchy is not about power. This passage is not about establishing the man’s dominance over a woman, but instead, the permission from God to lead. Stay with me here, because those are not the same thing. In the same sentence that says the head of the wife is her husband, it also says the head of every man is Christ, the head of Christ is God. Man must also follow the leading of Christ and Christ the leading of God. The only one who has the right to rule with absolute power is God. Everyone and everything else is in submission to Him and His will.
- Men are to lead as Jesus led. I find it very interesting that in the same chapter where Paul talks about men being the head, he also reminds us of the model men are to follow. I know the point of those verses of Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:17 – 34) is to give instructions for the proper observance of communion. However, the placement of a reminder of how Jesus led is intriguing to me. As we talked about earlier in Verse 3, Christ is the head of the man. I struggle to find a passage where Jesus fed His ego or where Jesus lorded His power over another person. Instead, I see humility, gentleness, sacrifice, and love. When my wife and I got married, we had our wedding rings engraved. On the inside of my wedding ring is Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This was done to serve as a reminder to me that because I have been tasked with leading, it is my job to follow Christ’s example in a way that glorifies God. Christ our ultimate example gave of Himself even to the point of death on a cross, because that was what was honoring to God.
How this plays out in our home. While my wife and I have not been married as long as some of you reading this, we have been married long enough to know that I have failed to lead in a way that honors Christ on more than one occasion. Every time I choose to honor myself, I am failing to lead like Jesus. I also cannot think of a time (and my wife confirmed) where I have said “I’m the man! I’m in charge and this is what we are going to do.” Instead, when I’m leading in a way that honors God, I’m seeking out my wife’s input, I’m encouraging us to pray and seek God’s leading in our lives, and I’m looking for ways to serve my wife as my wife is also doing the same towards me. The beautiful way God has designed men and women is that we need each other. One is not better or worse, nor is one superior and one inferior. We are a team, and we each bring different things to the team and those things are to be celebrated and enjoyed.
Adam
- https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-1Cr/1Cr-11.cfm?a=1073002
- https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-1Cr/1Cr-11.cfm?a=1073002